Jacques Lemaire returns to Devils as coach 11 years after leaving, replacing Brent Sutter

Jacques Lemaire returns to NJ Devils as coach

NEWARK, N.J. — Jacques Lemaire is returning for a second stint as coach of the New Jersey Devils.

Lemaire, who coached the Devils for five seasons in the mid 1990s and led them to the first of three Stanley Cups, was hired Monday to replace Brent Sutter, who resigned after two seasons.

Contract terms were not disclosed but the 63-year-old Lemaire said he intends to coach at least two seasons.

“I never thought I would be back,” Lemaire said. “I said at that time when I was leaving after five years, and it was five great years, I wanted to cherish this for the rest of my life and the rest of my career, but I never thought one day I would come back.”

The deal reunites Lemaire with general manager and president Lou Lamoriello and goaltender Martin Brodeur, the combination that turned that Devils from a contender to a champion in 1995.

“Jacques Lemaire is one of the most respected coaches in the game,” Lamoriello said during a conference call. “He is a teacher and a communicator, and knows what it takes to have success.”

Lemaire recently resigned as coach of the Minnesota Wild. He took over the expansion franchise in 2000 and led them to the playoffs three times. However, the injury-plagued Wild struggled this past season and Lemaire stepped down, saying he had taken them as far as he could.

“Last year, right after the season, I never did close the door on coaching,” Lemaire said. “I just said that my time in Minnesota is over and it’s time to go on and do something else,” Lemaire said.

Watching the playoffs convinced Lemaire that he still wanted to coach.

“I’ve heard a lot of ex-coaches say often that it is really hard to get out of this because we love the game and it is exciting and it’s fun,” Lemaire said. “Well, that’s what I got watching the playoffs.”

Lemaire first talked with Lamoriello about the vacant job before the NHL draft in mid June and the two hammered out an agreement this past weekend.

The Devils won the Atlantic Division title this past season, but they were stunned in the opening round of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes, giving up two late goals in a Game 7 loss.

Lemaire has watched the Devils and he likes what he sees.

“When you’ve been coaching for 15 years, when you look at a team, you want to have a chance to win the Cup, there is no doubt about that,” Lemaire said. “Especially in my situation, this would be a great thing to have a chance. Don’t forget there are 30 teams saying the same thing. I want a chance to be part of this and if there is a chance I would love to get another one.”

Lemaire has won 11 Stanley Cups as a player, coach and executive. He has a career coaching record of 538-415-176 in 14 seasons with Montreal, New Jersey and Minnesota.

Lamoriello also announced that Mario Tremblay, who spent the past nine seasons as an assistant coach in Minnesota with Lemaire, will join the Devils’ coaching staff. The team also retained assistant coach Tommy Albelin and goaltending coach Jacques Caron. Former Devils great Scott Stevens will also take a more active coaching role both with the team and their AHL affiliate, Lamoriello said.

In giving the job to Lemaire, Lamoriello passed over assistant coach John MacLean again. He was the leading contender when Sutter got the job two years ago.

This time, MacLean was given the head coaching job at Lowell of the AHL. Kevin Dean will be his assistant coach and Chris Terreri will be the goaltending coach.

“There is no question as to John MacLean’s knowledge of the game,” said Lamoriello. “This is the next step in his bright coaching career.”